Japanese Flowering-quince

Chaenomeles japonica

Rarely persisting or spreading from horticultural plantings. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

—

Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 2–3 feet
Spread: 3–6 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: April to May
Fruiting season: August to October

JFMAMJJASOND

Recorded in 11 Virginia counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

8CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Chaenomeles

Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
Lyonetia prunifoliellaStriped Bent-wing
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Trichoplusia niNi Moth, Cabbage Looper Moth
Bucculatrix pomifoliella
Coleophora sacramenta

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Rosaceae
Hardiness: Zones 5a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: Orange, pink, red or white
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Several stems
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: August
Fruit ends: October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “April to May” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Orange, pink, red or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “August” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 5a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “2–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry; Occasionally wet; Very dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “3–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Japanese Flowering quince

Conservation status

Virginia rank	Not available
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source